Under 20 World Cup in Argentina: the national team makes a clean slate to forget the coup in South America

The blow was hard. And that was no more than three months ago. But fate wanted Argentina to play Sub 20 world from which he was surprisingly excluded for that great frustration that was the elimination in the first phase of the South American occurred between January and February. The change of location and being chosen by the Fifa as the host country, it automatically assigned the classification to the Biancoceleste team. Javier they mask He has decided to withdraw his resignation and the delegation has already been at work since Monday at the Lionel Andrés Messi stadium in Ezeiza in view of the debut on Saturday the 20th against Uzbekistan in Santiago del Estero.

Since the youngsters set foot in the majestic AFA bunker, in addition to physical and football training, the operation has started “Tabula Rasa” so that the very blow suffered in Colombia does not affect this group of 21 players who see themselves renewed.

There are nine players who made up the South American squad and who will now play in the World Cup: Federico Gomes Gerth, Lautaro Di Lollo, Agustín Giay, Valentín Gómez, Máximo Perrone, Gino Infantino, Ignacio Maestro Puch, Alejo Véliz, Brian Aguirre.

The coach has decided to add to these names those of Nicolás Cláa, Lucas Lavagnino, Tomás Avilés, Román Vega, Valentín Barco, Mateo Tanlongo, Ignacio Miramón, Federico Redondo, Valentín Carboni, Matías Soulé (he will arrive this Friday), Luka Romero and Juan Gauto.

That is to say, nearly half of the list repeats itself. And this is why one of Masche’s premises was to make people understand that the past was being trampled on. “We have the opportunity to play in the World Cup and we must take advantage of it”, the DT told the children. In turn, they have the figure of the sports psychologist Juan Manuel Brindisi to strengthen from their space.

“In football, the result is not a choice, it’s a consequence. We can’t afford not to be ourselves. We have an idea and there’s no better opportunity than being able to represent it in a tournament like this.
Fate has put us in this place and we must take advantage of this opportunity. Our engine to motivate us in this championship must be that we play in Argentina, with our people, family and friends “, she later said, already publicly, in an interview with the channel ESPN.

“We talked about it among the players. What happened is behind us and now we have to give our best here,” revealed Mateo Tanlongo to the microphones of clarion. The guys also chat with each other so that what has been experienced recently by different members of the group does not affect now.

The Sporting de Portugal player added: “We don’t take it as revenge. It’s a blank slate. What happened in the South American is over. Now we’re training in the best possible way and we’re starting from scratch to be able to build something and achieve what we want.”

Alejo Véliz, his team-mate in Rosario Central, also took the same line: “Personally, I don’t know whether to take it as a revenge, but as another opportunity. We know very well that things didn’t go well for us South Americans as well, we didn’t have any luck. But now let’s think about the now and here, day by day.” And he elaborated: “We didn’t plan to play in the World Cup, but it turned up. Thank God it happened and we’ll take advantage of it.”

For the right side of San Lorenzo, Agustín Giay, everything changes when it comes to seeing each other again: “When we all meet here it’s always something very nice. We meet again and change chips. We try to have fun. The majority We know each other, but there are new guys and that’s why we’re putting the group together.”

And Federico Redondo, Argentinos Juniors midfielder, told this newspaper: “What we want and what we are looking for is to be protagonists in all matches, as this shirt marks. Javier asks us to play freely, to play football”.

At the same time, Redondo spoke about the local factor, something that even the coaching staff underlined as having to be used favorably to become strong: “Being the host country will be an extra boost, it will help us to have people from our side.”

The Under 20 team thus tries to leave behind the ghost of the South American and to focus on this new World goal.

Redondo and father Fernando’s advice

Federico Redondo makes his way, without having on his shoulders the weight of being “the son of…”. His father, Fernando Redondo, has a great past as a player for the national team, although this does not seem to have a negative influence or extra pressure for the boy who stands out in the midfield of Argentinos Juniors.

“My father’s past in the national team doesn’t change me much. He made his career and I will make mine. My father told me that this is the most beautiful place for a footballer to stay and that I had a lot of fun.” “, Federico first expressed clarion. And he concluded: “This is a great source of pride. Since childhood, this is what one dreams of. The highest aspiration one has is to play in a World Cup with the national team and for this I am very happy. “

Tanlongo has all the faith

Mateo Tanlongo exudes optimism and faith. Always with an expression of joy on his face, he doesn’t hesitate to answer this newspaper: “What are we for? To be champions”. It’s not a statement laced with pride or overconfidence; It is your feeling, the desire and desire of everyone.

“I missed going back to Argentina, being with my friends, having companions. I already wanted to be here again. Entering here is an inexplicable sensation. When I entered the property with my father and mother… It is something unique Everyone wants to be here. I can’t explain the emotion I felt when I entered. This Scudetto is the greatest there is,” remarked the boy from Funes who plays in Portugal.

The Revenge of Agustín Giay

If the South American in Colombia was frustrating for the Under 20s, it was doubly forgettable for Agustín Giay. Is that in the match against Brazil he suffered a severe sprain in his left ankle, something that left him out of the competition.

This is why this new appointment is special for him: “You can say that for me it’s like revenge. Yes, in my case I take it as revenge. It’s a joy to have another opportunity and nothing less than playing a World Cup which for me it’s something new,” he assured clarion.